Illuminated radiator cap



ILLUMINATED RADIATOR CAP Nov. 29, 1927. v

' R. MARANZINQ Fi led Jan.29, 1927 INVENTOR. R. MARANZ/NO A TTORNE Y.

lPatented Nov. 29, 19217.

s'rss BOSGOE MARANZINO. OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ILLUMINATED RADIATOR. car.

Application filed January 29, 1927. Serial No. 164,578.

This invention relates to radiator caps for automobiles.

The general object of this invention is to provide an ornamentalradiator cap which may be electrically illuminated. Another object ofthis invention is to provide an electrically illuminated ornamentalradiator can which will not interfere with the filling. of the saidradiator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple andeffective means for supplying electric current to an. ornamentalradiator cap. 1

Other objects and advantages or which invention will be apparent lromthefollow ing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingwherein:

Fig. 1 is an exterior view of my device. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionthrough my device showing' the various parts thereof asi sembled. a

is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 3 Fig. 2.. Y r

Fig". 4 is a side elevation of the lamp holder. i

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the contact rings used in conjunction withmy device, and

Fig"- 6 is an elevation of an automobile having my ornamental radiatorcap applied to the radiator spout. 1

Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have'indicated mydcviceat 10 as applied to the filling neck 11 of the radiator 12 of anautomobile 13. The radi'ator12 is of the usual type and is provided withan overflow pipe 14. r

As shown the radiator neck 11 has an en-' larged upper portion 15 whichisprovided with screyv threads 16. At the juncture of the neck 11 andthe enlarged upper portion 15 a shoulder 17 is formed.

My device consists of two units, a cap 13 and a contact ring 19. The cap18 takes the place of the usual radiator cap and is composed of threeparts, a central ring 20, a lamp base 21, and a cover member 22.

The ring 20 is made of metal and includes an internal flange 23 havin atits outer. periphery an upstanding circular flange 24. The flange 24 isprovided on its inner and outer surfaces with screw threads. The. flange23 is provided with a central threaded aperture 25. i l

The lamp base 21 is. preferably made of high heatin'sulating materialand includes a bottom portion 26, an intermediate boss 27, and athreaded upper portion 28. The boss 27 takes the form of a truncatedcone and has a beveled under portion 29 and a top shoulder 30'. The lampbase is also provided with a centralcylindrical aperture 31 closed atits lower end andopened at its upper end.

Mounted in the lower portion 26 of the lamp base 21 I have shown a pairof lamp 'electrical contact members 32 and 33 having portions '34 and 35extending up into the central vertical aperture 31. v

For conveying electric current to the contact members 32 and. 33 I showmetal strips 36 and 37 molded in the lowerportion 26 and the flange 27and connected to the contact members 32 and'33. The strips 36 and 37have resilient contact portions 38 and 39 protruding out from thebeveled portion 29.

Arrangedin the lowerportion of the base 21 I show screw threadedbushings 40 which are adapted to receive set screws 41 (see Fig. 3) tohold'thelamp L in place.

The cover member 22 is made of metal and is shown as comprising an upperdome shaped portion 42 a lower externally threaded. flange 43, and aknurled straight intermediate portion 44. Arranged around the sidesofthe conical portion 42 in staggeredt'orma t1on I have shown apluralltyot apertures 45 inwhich are pieces 46 which may be in thenature of colored glas'sjewels. On the top of the (301110211 'pprtion 42"I also provide anaperture 47 s milar to the apertures 45,

only larger, in which Ialso arrange a glass jewel 48. V I

The jewels 46 and 48 are preferably secured in position by a suitablecement and are preferably arranged to produce a pleasing efiect by theuse of various colors. To assemble the radiator cap 18'asf shown in thedrawings the threaded portion 28 of the lamp base 21 is screwed into thethreaded central bore 25 ofthe central ring 20 and then the doublecontact electric'lightbulb L is placed inthe central vertical aperture31 of the lamp base 21 and is so positioned that its contacts engage thecontact inem bers .34 and 35 of the lampbase. The elecan lightbulb Lfisheld in position by clampingthebase of the same ina rigid positionbymeans of the set screws 41 iinthe .lowerportion' 26. of thelamp base21 (see Fig.3); After the light L has been placed in. position the covermember 22 is secured lit);

to the central ring20 by means of the ente're will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

For securing the insulated segment to themetal ring 49' have shown setscrews 52 engaging threaded apertnr'es in the ring .1-9 and threadedinserts 53 in the insulated ring 50'. The inserts 53 are preferablymolded inthe insulated ring 50.

The contact ring 1 9 which includes the combination of the metal ring49' and the insulated segment 50, is provided with a central conicalaperture 54, the sides of which are beveled-as at 53 to correspond tothe bevel 29 on flange 27 of the lamp base 21.

The insulated ring 50 is provided onits beveled portion: with a metalcontact segment 56 which terminates short of the ends of the segment 50and which is preferably held in position by molding in the segment 50tongues 57 of the contact ring 56. The

. contact ring 56 is provided on theu'n'der-side of the insulatedsegment-'50 with a terminal 58. .Orr'the under side "of the anetal ring49 I- provide a plurali-ty ofspnrs "59, the function of which will bemore fully described hereinafter; v

To install my device on an automolnl-e the cont-act ring 19 is placed inthe enlarged upper portion -1:5*o;fthe radiator neck 11 so that it restson the shoulder 17; and the spurs 59 are forced into the metal of saidshoulderto prevcnt the/contact ring from turning, a wire W havingpreviously been socuredtotlie terminal 58 and preferably run through theoverflow pipe 14 to a switch (not shown) on the instrument board of theautomobile. After the contact ring 19 has been placed in position the cap unit 18 which includes the central ring 20, lamp 7 base 21 andornament-alcover 22, is attached tIo-the neck 11 bythe'elXterna'lthreads of the flange 24 of the central ring 20 engagingthe internal threads 1601? the enlarged neck portion 15.

hen the cap 18 has been secured in position th'e contact portions 38 and39 on the bevel 29 0t flangeQT-of the lamp base 21 will rest foirthebeveled portion of contact ring 19 and one ofsaid contacts will engagethe contact; ring? 56 of the insulated portion 50; whilethe othercontact will engage the metal ring-49. :As shown in Fig. 2 the contactpontion -38*engages the contact segment 56 and the contact portion39'engagcs the metal ring 49 of contact ringlf);

When the contacts 38 and 39 are thus positioned the electric currentwill, when the switch is turned on, flow from the wire \V,

through the tern'iinal 58 into the contact segment 56, whence it willpass into the contact portion 38 and through the strip 36 to the contact32. From the contact 32 the current will pass through the electric lampL and into the contact 83, whence it will pass through the strip 37 tothe contact portion 39. From the contact portion 39 it will pass throughthe metal portion 490i contact ring 19 to the radiator neck 11 andthence back through the vehicle body to the battery,

whence it originated.

By extending the contact ring 56 of the insulated member 50, less thanhalf way around the contact ring 19, I prevent any possibility of everhaving both the contact mobiles which can be "economically manufacturedand quickly installed.

What I- claim-is:

1. In combination with an automobile provided with a radiator and havinga filling spout, a ring in said spent, a cap for said filling spout,said cap having transparent members therein, an electric lamp in saidup. contacts in said cap and connectedto said electric lamp, saidfringbeing provided with "clectrici-il contact-in'g; means, the contacts onsaid cap being arrangedv to engage the contact-inc means of said ring,to conduct current to said lamp.

'2. In combination with an automobile radiator havino. a threadedfilling spout thereon; a cap for said spout. said cap having threads toQl'lfZtlfIC the threads of said spout. an electric lamp base in saidcap; an aperture in said cap. an electric lamp in said base. aperturesin the walls of said cap; transparent members fitted in said apertures,a contact ring in said radiator spout, said contact. ring includingmeans for receiving elcctriccurrent and means for grounding saidelectric current, said receiving means and said groimdihg means beinginsulated from each other. means in said lamp base for conductingcurrent from said receiving means to said lamp and means for conduct ingcurrent from said lamp to said grounding means. said contact ring beingso constructed that at no time will. both of said current conductingmeans contact with said receiving means.

8. In combination with a threaded spout a cap, said cap comprising anintermediate portion, a base, and a cover, said intermediate portioncomprising a ring having an inwardly directed circular flange, said ringhaving external threads, said flange having internal threads, said lampbase comprising a lower portion, anintermediate circular boss and anupper portion and having an aperture therein, said boss being beveledfrom its outer periphery downward and in ward to said lower portion,said upper portion having screw threads on its outer periphery engagedwith the threads on said flange, a pair of contacts at the bottom ofsaid lamp base, and a pair of oppositely disposed contacts on thebeveled sur lace of said flange, means for connecting each of saidcontacts on said beveled surface with one of said contacts on the bottomof said base, said cover comprising a hollow upper portion and a reducedlower circular flange, said lower flange engaging said ring, said upperportion bein provided with apertures therethrough, transparent memberssecured insaid apertures, and means to connect the contacts insaidflange with a source of electricity.

at. In an article of manufacture, a cap,

said cap comprising an intermediate portion,

lower portion, an intermediate circular boss and an upper portion andhaving an aperture extending from the top surface of said upper portionto a point adjacent the lower 7 end of said lower portion, said bossbeing beveled from its outer periphery downward and mward to said lowerportlon, said up- Jer )ortion havin screw threads on its outer peripheryengaged with the threads on said flange, a pair of contacts at thebottom of said lamp base, and a pair of op positely disposed contacts onthe beveled surface of said flange, means for connecting each of saidcontacts on said beveled surface with one of said contactson the bottomof said base said cover com )risin a hollow u )er 2 a b portion andareduced lower circular flange,

said lower flange engaging said ring, said i upper portion beingprovided with apertures therethrough, and transparent members secured insaid apertures.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

nosoon MARANZINO.

